from Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi

Beloved Sangha of the Hollow Bones Order,

This past year has been wonderful. I stand in awe and full appreciation of that old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times."

Thank you!  Our Mondo Zen practice has taken root, and a great Awakening is taking place with our ranks. Our angst is indeed becoming our liberation.

If you have not had the opportunity to attend a Mondo sesshin or worked with one of our sisters or brothers who has done the Mondo Teacher Training, please study the Mondo Zen Training Manual online.  It is at last fully adequate, and do attend sesshin or work our Mondo Zen protocol with someone ASAP.

Please consider attending the May 2011 Colorado Teachers' Training sesshin, for your first time or for a reconfirmation. Remember, Zen training is no different than concert training. How do you get to Carnegie Hall?  It's really very simple - in either case, great instruction, clear understanding and practice, practice, practice.

This is where the rubber hits the road. This is where you will not only accelerate your Awakening within your concentration Zazen practice, but where you will also change your philosophical Understanding of your True Clear Deep Heart Mind nature and experience how to hold and utilize this Awakened mind clarity and compassion in your ordinary daily life!

2010

...added a small victory.  After requesting 100% organic food for fifteen years at our annual Rohatsu sesshin at Saint Norbert Abbey here in Green Bay, Wisconsin, they have finally offered to have our meals catered so that we can be 100% organic. Yes, Sacred Stewardship - progress on the road to no-where!

... added four new priests this year:  three sisters - Kevala Deb Hoffmann, Reishin Denise Leong and Daji Corinna Peterson - and one brother, Zenrin Jeff Goodman.

... added a new Hollow Bones sangha in Australia, and another in Holland and we have committed to those sanghas to hold an annual Australian and Holland sesshin.

Our association with Ken Wilber's Integral Philosophy sangha  is introducing Mondo Zen to a broad audience, and new sisters and brothers from that organization are coming to train from around the world.

My health is stable, damage from chemo and radiation livable, and, subsequently, I am committed to lead five sesshins on three continents over the next five months. Hope to see you at one of them.

Remember who you are! And if you do not yet know, back to the Zendo!!!!!!

In any case, unconditional love, robust health, joy, and, oh yes, Genuine Insight to each and everyone of you!  I remain eternally grateful to you for your practice and support.

Yours in this Dharma ... Happy New Year, 

Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi